Day 14 - Bowrick to Penrith

Day 14 - Bowrick to Penrith

In the morning we buy stuff for breakfast from a Marks and Spencers store in the motorway reststop complex. 50 metres from our hotel.  And we make things up and eat in our room. Fruit to keep healthy. Yogurt for protein. The typical English/Scottish fry-up looks so unhealthy and not for us.

We ride on from the Travelodge hotel near Borwich. Getting out of the rest stop complex is not easy and we are heading for the motorway onramp. A traffic car follows us to make sure we are seriously  not trying to cycle onto the motorway. We find the way onto our quiet road.

We are heading for Penrith. Yesterday was a big day.  Today is a big day. 108.7 km.  And we are somewhat tired.  And still a bit shocked from our near accident last night.

It's a very nice morning. The cycling is pretty flat for a while.

Lunch stop
Then we start climbing. The route is now very bumpy with many ups and downs. We look at the guide book and see that we can take an alternative that will avoid Appleby and save us 20 kms. We still have the same climb up onto moorland.  These quiet scenic routes in our guide book avoiding traffic sometimes can double distances and increase heights climbed by a lot.

 The riding atmosphere is great today. Zita and I are getting on well. The high moor above Orton is beautiful  as is the wonderful zoom downhill off the moor.  And more beautiful afternoon riding through the wooded valley and beside the River Lyvennet.
High moorlands






 We arrive at Penrith to find the hostel easily. It's in top condition. I get help from a fellow cyclist with my difficult gears and learn something knew about adjusting them.  We are in a dorm room. I have concerns after our experience in St. Ives about grotty room mates. But the room is great and our room mates are very pleasant. One is a guide for a National Geographic walking holiday. He tells us his American clients pay a lot and require top class service. I think they are walking coast to coast.

 We have a Chinese meal take away which we take back to the hostel. I always feel some sympathy and fellow feeling for people of other nationalities doing what they can to make a go of a business in a UK town – as in food outlets. They come to make a better life for themselves. But especially in these smaller towns with long histories, they may always feel outsiders. 
It's great to be here in the light. And it was great that we didn't get lost today. Yeah!

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